Up next Epic Overlanding Without Leaving the Continent Published on July 31, 2025 Author Chris Hamilton Photo Credit CHRIS HAMILTON Share article Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Mail 0 Transforming a Stock Gladiator: Stage One of Our Ultimate Jeep Build Customizing Our Everyday American Hero When you get your hands on a stock Jeep Gladiator, it doesn’t take long before the itch hits and you want to make it your own. That’s exactly why we kicked off this first part of our multi-issue build series for Tread Magazine. We set out to transform our 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon into a rig that looks tough, drives great, and handles the trails and the streets without breaking a sweat. We teamed up with Skyjacker to install its 2.5-inch dual-rate long-travel coil spring lift kit, paired up with Black Max shocks. This isn’t your basic lift kit; it’s a performance-focused setup designed to deliver a better ride, more flex, and a stance that looks the part. To make sure everything stayed lined up after the lift, we added Skyjacker’s adjustable front track bar, which is a must-have when you’re messing with suspension geometry. Our American Gladiator is a 2020 Rubicon series Jeep, and even though it’s very capable right from the factory, we plan to make this daily driver all it can be. To top off the look and performance, we mounted up a set of Weld 17-inch Cinch wheels wrapped in beefy LT315/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler G3 tires. Real beadlocks mean we’re ready for serious trail action, and the Toyos strike a great balance between off-road grip and on-road comfort. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Before bolting everything up, we measured all four corners so we could see exactly how much height we gained. Once the install was done and the Jeep hit the ground, we were pumped. The added clearance, the new wheel and tire combo, and the tough stance completely transformed the look and feel of the Gladiator. This truck currently has a set of 285/70/17 tires, and while it can probably clear a 35-inch tire right from the factory, the front needs to be higher, and more clearance above the tire is important in our mind. The best part? Hitting the road afterward. The ride is solid, the steering feels tight, and the extra height is right on the money. It’s not too tall, and there isn’t too much squat—it’s just right for daily driving and weekend adventures. We couldn’t be happier with how the first stage came together, and this is just the beginning. Stay tuned over the next few issues as we bolt on even more goodies, including bumpers from Attica 4×4, a Honcho visor, Wilwood brakes, Rigid lights, and a few extra surprises we’re not spilling just yet. This Gladiator is only going to get wilder from here. Skyjacker’s 2.5-inch front and 1-inch rear dual-rate long-travel coil spring lift kit with Black MAX shocks gives the Gladiator a perfect mix of flex, ride comfort, and articulation—all engineered to handle on- and off-road action with confidence. Skyjacker Black MAX twin-tube shocks use foam-cell tech for consistent performance across temperatures, giving you maximum control, durability, and flexible mounting options on any terrain. The Skyjacker adjustable front track bar centers your Jeep’s front axle after lifting, improving steering control, reducing axle shift, and keeping everything tracking straight on or off the trail. Front and rear adjustable lower control arms keep your driveline angles and alignment dialed in, using beefy DOM tubing with OEM-style bushings and RockJock Johnny Joints for over 30 degrees of flex and superior off-road articulation. These 17×9 Weld simulated beadlock wheels are designed for hardcore off-road grip, giving your Gladiator the strength and style to handle rocks, mud, and whatever else you throw at it. The LT315/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler G3 tires bring aggressive off-road traction with a smoother, quieter on-road ride, letting your Gladiator tackle the trails without sacrificing street comfort. We are installing this lift kit in our garage using nothing but floor jacks and basic tools most of us already have in our toolbox. The fenders of our Gladiators sit exactly 39.5 inches from the ground with the stock suspension and wheels installed. If you haven’t been told in the past, do not install a lift kit with the weight of the vehicle on a floor jack. Always use jack stands on both sides of the truck. Also, be sure to block the rear wheels so there is no chance of the truck rolling while you’re under it. The first part was to unbolt the skid plate under the front bumper. The next part to come off was the factory sway bar end links. We could then unbolt the factory front track bar and remove it completely. The front shocks could now be removed from both sides. We also needed to unbolt the brake line bracket to gain some extra length in the suspension drop. Before we disconnected the front driveshaft, we marked the current location so it will go back together exactly the way it came apart. We used a bungee cable to hang the driveshaft instead of fully removing it from the Jeep. We needed to unclip the differential electrical plugs and vent hose to allow it to drop down far enough to remove the springs. The factory springs were then easily removed and set aside. . Before installing the new front springs, we needed to make sure the factory rubber spring damper was put back and properly in place. With the spring damper in place, we could slide the new Skyjacker spring in place. Next on the list was to replace the stock lower control arms with these new Skyjacker arms. We left them loose until the truck was sitting on its own weight. Before reinstalling the electrical connectors and driveshaft, we bolted in these new, longer sway bar end links from Skyjacker Moving to the rear, we set the truck on jack stands and started unbolting the factory parts. The upper and lower sway bar endlink bolts came out first, just like the front. We then unbolted and removed the factory shocks and set them aside. The factory spring could now be easily removed and added to the pile of stock parts that will be getting packed away in the storage unit. The lower control arms were next to be replaced with the new units from Skyjacker. Our new extended sway bar endlinks were now assembled and installed with the factory hardware. The final parts to install were the new Skyjacker Black MAX twin tube shocks. After getting these killer wheels mounted and balanced, we were so excited to get them bolted onto the truck. They look amazing! The final look of our American Gladiator is perfect. It has the stance of a truck workhorse, the clearance to go anywhere we plan to take it, and still maintains the ability to easily tow without a big drop hitch.
Features Vans & Campers First In The U.S. Maltec Land Cruiser 80/79 Series 1993 Maltec Land Cruiser 80/79 Series Double Cab If you’ve been to Overland Expo or have been following the Land Cruiser movement, then you have […] JACOB FEUERMAN May 12, 2021
Features Overlanding Dreams: Planning for Spring and Summer Adventures Every year around March, I travel from my home state of Idaho to the coastal tributaries of Oregon to swing for winter steelhead, take in […] Devan Ence April 15, 2024
Features Trucks 1988 Toyota Bandeirante Comes to America DakarTundra’s Brazilian Land Cruiser makes the trek to the U.S.A. Martin Reginato, @DakarTundra on Instagram, continually builds up cool Toyota vehicles. His latest batch included […] Bryon Dorr July 20, 2022
Features Jeeps Meet El Jefe, the Classic YJ Turned TREAD Cover Model Meet the Classic YJ Turned TREAD Cover Model You can tell a lot about a person by what they put into a build. Take, for […] Lindsey Fisher May 08, 2024